Interior Design Report: Comparing Victorian and Contemporary Design

This report delves into the realm of interior design, offering a comprehensive overview of its principles and historical evolution. It begins by defining interior design and outlining its purpose, emphasizing the role of elements such as space, light, form, texture, color, furniture, and objects in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing environments. The report then explores the Victorian period, examining the factors that influenced its design and its reflection in British architecture. It contrasts the Victorian era with the contemporary period, highlighting differences and similarities in key elements such as furniture, wall coverings, floors, and window treatments. The analysis covers how social, economic factors, and technological advancements have shaped interior design trends over time. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and providing a comparative perspective on the two distinct design eras, offering valuable insights into the past, present, and future of interior design.

Interior Designing
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
ASSIGNMENT A.................................................................................................................................3
Interior Design.................................................................................................................................3
Purpose of the Interior Design.........................................................................................................3
ASSIGNMENT B.................................................................................................................................5
The factors which influences the design of Victorian period..........................................................5
ASSIGNMENT C.................................................................................................................................6
The reflection of the Victorian period and reasons..........................................................................6
ASSIGNMENT D.................................................................................................................................6
Development of the interior designing and its impacts...................................................................6
ASSIGNMENT E.................................................................................................................................7
Differences and similarities between Victorian and Contemporary Period.....................................7
CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
Interior designing is defined as the managing and developing of the interior through colours,
lighting and furniture etc. to provide the new environment. The interior designing is done by the
architects, interior designer who creates innovative and new projects for their clients (Zuo, Leonard
and Malone Beach, 2010). This report includes the purpose of the interior designing and research on
the Victorian period and its style in that era. Furthermore, the report shows the interior design of the
future period and the difference between the Contemporary and Victorian period.
ASSIGNMENT A
Interior Design
It is an art of designing the interior through various innovative ideas and products such as
colour, texture, furniture etc. to give the interior new shape and new environment (Merrell and et.al.,
2011). Interior designing can done of the residential, commercials and others such as park, museum,
event designing etc. The interior design constitutes various design such as Victorian, Georgian and
Contemporary etc. which includes different designs and styles.
Purpose of the Interior Design
Interior Design contains seven elements which works together to provide pleasing environment
in the house, stores, restaurants etc. to meet with the consumers' needs and requirements. The elements
are as follows: Space: This refer to the space where interior designing will be done and it can includes walls,
floors, ceiling, windows and doors etc. For the designer, it is the blank canvas which helps the
designer to enhance their functionality and style on it (Carmel‐Gilfilen and Portillo, 2010). Light: It is the important aspect in creating the ambience and mood of the room as well as it
can change the colours and texture of the area (How to Have a Victorian Style for Living
Room Designs, 2015). Lightening can be of different types which can help in creating certain
feel, mood and style in the particular rooms. Form: This element refer in the outlining or shaping of the furniture, objects and for the space
itself. It is better to get the correct form which suits to the size and shape of the room (Phan
and Choo, 2010). Texture: This element plays a powerful role in the interior designing which can change the
room drastically to an extent. For example, to change monochrome room into contemporary
room. The texture of the room can be change by the rugs, wallpaper, cushions and drapes etc. Colour: The colour of the room can affect the mood of the individual. Various colours
indicates various feels (Gürel, 2010). For instance, blue colour indicates calm and serenity etc.
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It also shows the perception about the room that is big or small. Furniture: This element can provide functionality to a room and contributes the overall style
and feel (Merrell and et.al., 2011). The furniture should be according to the choice of the
clients and their needs. The furniture should be keep in line so that enough space can be
created in the room.
 Objects: This element completes the interior designing of the room by giving the personal
touch (Use These 7 Tenets of Interior Design for a Well-Rounded Home, 2013). The objects
gives the personal attribute to a space but it should be select carefully so that it can match the
interior.
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Illustration 1: Elements of Interior Design
(Source:Use These 7 Tenets of Interior Design for a Well-Rounded Home, 2013)

ASSIGNMENT B
The factors which influences the design of Victorian period
In PPT.
ASSIGNMENT C
The reflection of the Victorian period and reasons
I chose the Victorian period because in this era also, British uses this style in their interior to
make resembles to the Victorian period. In UK, there are many places and palaces which constitutes
this period style so that their culture can vitiated from the world. The Victorian style is all about
cornicing, bay windows and patterned brickwork (Carroll and Wheeler, 2014). Many of the people in
the UK like the period property because it is hard to find similar properties in places Glasgow and
Manchester, whose architecture reflects the fact that they boomed during the reign of Queen Victoria.
This era designs widely considered as an ancient and precious by the local people. The houses which
construct in the United Kingdom are of contemporary era or of Victorian style because the culture of
the UK is influenced by the Victorian Style.
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Illustration 2: Elements of Interior Design
(Source: Elements of Design – Texture, 2012)

ASSIGNMENT D
Development of the interior designing and its impacts
According to the perspective of the history, interior design is the important part of that time.
The interior designs provides the look for the interior and their purposes of the mansion. The interior
design helps us to know about the earlier designs and its unique furniture, antique statues and its great
arrangement of sleek seating gives them royal look which indicates their traditional manner. The
Georgian period which starts from 1720- 1840 has marble flooring and they are influenced by the
classical architecture of Greece and Rome. On the other hand, the Victorian era begins from 1837-1901
has taken the inspiration from the Italianate style which lately become as Victorian period. And after
that it has changes into the contemporary era which is the modern era in which flooring are done in
wood as compared to the Gregorian period and Victorian era.
In earlier times, the architecture and building of the monuments are only known as interior
designs. But, this term was less common in the UK because the profession of the interior design was
not officially announced. Afterwards, it slowly gets developed after the world war II and now it is the
prominent feature in creating any buildings and others places. In addition to this, the interior design
keeps on developing time to time and the factors which are important in these are as follows: Social and economic factors: Interior design should be done according to the needs and
requirements of the consumers. The new trends and fashion is keep on changing so the homes
and workplaces should be according to the clients' preferences (Carmel‐Gilfilen and Portillo,
2010). If the designers not fulfil the customers' needs then it led to the negative image of them
in front of the customers. So the social and economic factors plays and important role in the
interior designing. The design should be done according to the clients' standard of living and its
tastes and lifestyles.
 Advances in Technology: This factors also plays an important role because using of the
technology can done the work more faster as compared to the old method. So, the designer
should ensure that the interior designing should be done on time according to the time given by
the clients (Contemporary living room interior design ideas, lighting, Coloring, 2016). The
advanced and innovative technology is giving positive impacts by which designers are making
their clients' happy and satisfied. Now the consumers can chose their interior designing from
the online website of that company which are doing interior. Through this, time can easily
saved and clients should varieties of designs.
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ASSIGNMENT E
Differences and similarities between Victorian and Contemporary Period
There are four elements in Victorian and Contemporary Period which are furniture, wall
coverings, floors and window treatments. These are essential part of the house without which the home
are incomplete. There are different specification in the both era according to the tastes, preferences and
lifestyles. These elements plays an important role in Victorian and Contemporary Period. The colour is
important factor for the Victorian Era which was made by the paints and dyes. The colour includes
Brunswick
green, dark red, maroon and jet black. Walls tended to be divided into several sections defined by
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Illustration 3: Contemporary Period
(Source: Contemporary living room interior design ideas, lighting,
Coloring, 2016)
Illustration 4: Victorian Period
(Source: How to Have a Victorian Style for Living Room Designs, 2015)

skirting,
wainscoting, panelling, dado rail, picture rail and cornice. The differences between Victorian and
Contemporary Period is that the space of the houses is the main element of the interior designing. In
contemporary, there is a large space whereas in Victorian period, there are no spaces in the rooms
because of the furniture. This is because Furniture in the Victorian interior was embellished,
overstuffed, engraved, adorned
and usually patterned. In earlier times furniture are used for the books purposes but now it made for to
show as an objects. The similarities between two styles are furniture, the form which is used in the
Victorian style now it is the style statement in the contemporary period. The wall coverings in the two
periods are different because in contemporary era, the clients prefer white walls (Use These 7 Tenets of
Interior Design for a Well-Rounded Home, 2013). On the other hand, in Victorian period, the people
prefer colourful walls like green, pink red etc. Both era has different wall coverings which has various
colours and textures. The floor of the contemporary era are mostly wooden whereas Victorian period
floors is of the textures. Floor were often pine which would
have been either matched with a pattern to simulate marquetry or stained a
dark colour to imitate expensive hardwood. Halls and kitchen floors were
normally covered in geometric patterned terracotta tiles. Terracotta tiles were
also used in hallways, kitchens and parlours. In addition to this, the window are also different in both
the period. In Victorian period, windows was small and curtains on it, was long and heavy with dark
colours like maroon and dark pink etc.. The material which was used by the curtains was velvet and
silk. On the other hand, in contemporary era, the windows are long and in some house they do not used
curtains to cover their windows. The curtains which use in today era are of net, floral and of bright
colours and according to texture of the walls. The contemporary period gives the modern look whereas
Victorian period gives ancient and old British look.
CONCLUSION
The whole report is about the interior designing in which the different elements of the Victorian
period and contemporary era are evaluated. The interior design attracted the large number of customers
in this era but now the people are preferring the Victorian style as the interior designing. There are
differences and similarities in the contemporary era and Victorian period.
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REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Carmel‐Gilfilen, C. and Portillo, M., 2010. Creating mature thinkers in interior design: pathways of
intellectual development. Journal of Interior design. 35(3). pp.1-20.
Carroll, D. and Wheeler, M., 2014. The Victorian period: the intellectual and cultural context of
English literature. Routledge.
Gürel, M. Ö., 2010. Explorations in teaching sustainable design: A studio experience in interior
design/architecture. International Journal of Art & Design Education. 29(2). pp.184-199.
Merrell, P. and et.al., 2011. Interactive furniture layout using interior design guidelines.ACM
Transactions on Graphics (TOG). 30(4). p.87.
Mitton, M., 2012. Interior design visual presentation: a guide to graphics, models and presentation
techniques. John Wiley & Sons.
Panero, J. and Zelnik, M., 2014. Human dimension and interior space: a source book of design
reference standards. Watson-Guptill.
Phan, V. T. and Choo, S. Y., 2010. Interior design in augmented reality environment. International
Journal of Computer Applications. 5(5). pp. 50-55.
Zuo, Q., Leonard, W. and MaloneBeach, E. E., 2010. Integrating performance-based design in
beginning interior design education: an interactive dialog between the built environment and its
context. Design Studies. 31(3). pp.268-287.
Online
Contemporary living room interior design ideas, lighting, Coloring. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<http://interiordesign4.com/contemporary-living-room-interior-design-ideas-lighting-coloring/>.
[Accessed on 8th April 2016].
Elements of Design – Texture. 2012. [Online]. Available through:
<http://thedivastyledesignguide.blogspot.in/2012/07/elements-of-design-texture.html>.
[Accessed on 8th April 2016].
How to Have a Victorian Style for Living Room Designs. 2015. [Online]. Available through:
<http://homedesignlover.com/living-room-designs/victorian-style-living-room/>. [Accessed on
8th April 2016].
Use These 7 Tenets of Interior Design for a Well-Rounded Home. 2013. [Online]. Available through:
<http://stephaniekratzinteriors.com/blog/tenets-interior-design-well-rounded-home/>. [Accessed
on 8th April 2016].
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